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Bokondji Imama

Arizona Coyotes Sign Jean-Sebastien Dea, Boko Imama

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The Arizona Coyotes have added another minor league standout, signing Jean-Sebastien Dea to a two-year, two-way contract according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. The scribe reports that the deal will carry an average annual value of $750K in the NHL, though that isn’t actually possible as the league minimum will increase to $775K next season. Dea will earn $300K in the minor leagues.

Not to be forgotten is Bokondji Imama, who has re-signed with the team on a one-year, two-way contract. The 25-year-old had qualified for Group VI unrestricted free agent but will return to the team that gave him his first taste of NHL action this season.

Dea, 28, is an excellent AHL forward, capable of putting up big offensive numbers no matter where he’s playing. He had 26 goals and 52 points in 70 games with the Laval Rocket this year and also has experience with the Rochester Americans, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during his time in the minors. He also has 33 games of NHL experience, though any chance of him becoming an impact player at that level has long passed. He might get a handful of games in with the rebuilding club but is probably joining more for the Tucson Roadrunners than anything else.

The same is likely true for Imama, even if he did make his first NHL appearance this year. The 25-year-old played four games with the Coyotes and scored a goal, an impressive performance given he has never even reached double-digit tallies in the AHL. For Tucson this year he had five goals, 12 points, and 178 penalty minutes, bringing a physical presence to every shift.

14 Players Clear Waivers

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Oct 6: All 14 players have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Oct 5: Training camp continues to move along and every day brings more cuts. Many of those sent to the minor leagues need to clear waivers, and Chris Johnston of the Toronto Star tweets out today’s full list of 14.

Buddy Robinson (ANA)
Bokondji Imama (ARI)
Cameron Hughes (BOS)
Joona Koppanen (BOS)
Tyler Lewington (BOS)
Ryan MacInnis (BUF)
Sean Malone (BUF)
Ethan Prow (BUF)
Brett Connolly (CHI)
Joseph Gambardella (NJD)
Michael Hutchinson (TOR)
Brian Pinho (WSH)
Michael Sgarbossa (WSH)
Mike Vecchione (WSH)

The big name today is Connolly, who carries a $3.5MM cap hit this year and next. The 29-year-old scored just three goals and six points in 31 games split between the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks last season, a far cry from the consistent 15-20 goals he had recorded each of the previous four years. A team with extra cap space could certainly take the chance of him rebounding to those numbers, or if he clears, the Blackhawks could send him to the minor leagues. If they did, $1.125MM of his cap hit would be buried.

Arizona Coyotes Sign Bokondji Imama For One Year

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The Arizona Coyotes have inked a recent trade acquisition, as the team announced a one-year deal today for forward Bokondji Imama. The deal is a two-way contract, and Craig Morgan reports that it’s worth $750,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL level.

Imama is inking a deal to join this third NHL organization since being drafted. A bruising, physical winger who’s had some scoring success in the past, Imama was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015. He was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings organization before ever playing a pro game for Tampa, and that’s where he’s spent time before a minor-league swap of players this summer sent him to the desert. Imama’s used his four seasons in the Ontario Reign organization to slowly develop his offensive game while maintaining a physical presence, and he had a career-best 14 points in 31 games this past year.

Imama will inevitably suit up for the Tucson Roadrunners this season, but it’s not inconceivable that Imama will someday suit up for the Coyotes. His physicality could be appealing for a team that will be on the rise in a few years, and Imama could see some more scoring opportunities this year with a depleted Arizona Coyotes depth chart. Increased confidence this season and some scoring development could help ensure that he stays with the organization.

Kings Re-Sign Bokondji Imama

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Oct. 19: Los Angeles announced the contract today at the previously-reported terms.

Oct. 15: The Kings have taken care of one of their restricted free agents as PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that they’ve re-signed winger Bokondji Imama to a one-year, two-way deal.  The contract is worth $735K in the NHL and $60K in the minors which means he has accepted his qualifying offer.

The 24-year-old signed with Los Angeles back in 2017 as an undrafted free agent but has not made his way past the minor league ranks just yet.  Last season, he played in 50 games with AHL Ontario, picking up four goals and ten assists along with 134 penalty minutes; all of those numbers were the highest over his three professional seasons.  He has shown some flashes of upside in the past though as he had 41 goals with Saint John of the QMJHL back in 2016-17.

While Imama will be waiver-eligible next season, it’s quite likely that he’ll pass through unclaimed.  Assuming he makes it back to the Reign, he’ll hope to take another step forward offensively to give him a chance of becoming a fourth line recall at some point down the road.

Kings Acquire Bokondji Imama From Lightning, Agree To Terms

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Thursday: Imama has agreed to terms on a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN.

Wednesday: With the Lightning set to lose prospect Bokondji Imama’s rights in less than 24 hours, they have dealt his rights to Los Angeles, the Kings announced.  In return, the Kings will send their 2018 seventh round pick, contingent on them getting a deal done with Imama.

Imama was a sixth round pick of Tampa Bay (180th) overall back in 2015.  He had a career with the QMJHL Champion Saint John Sea Dogs, recording 41 goals (the team leader) and 14 assists along with 105 penalty minutes in 66 regular season games.  He also added eight goals and seven helpers in 18 postseason contests.  The Sea Dogs participated in the recently-completed Memorial Cup where he had a goal and two assists in four games.

Imama has played in five career seasons at the major junior level between Saint John and Baie-Comeau, scoring 71 goals to go with 52 assists and 463 penalty minutes in 276 games.

The Kings will have until 4:00 PM CST to get a deal done with the 20 year old.  Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports (Twitter link) that no deal had been agreed on prior to the trade.  If they’re unable to do get a contract done, they will lose his negotiating rights.

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